Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 8: To ask the Taoiseach the names of all persons appointed to assist the Government Economic Management Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6654/11]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Government Economic Management Council has been established with the status of a Cabinet committee. The secretariat is currently provided by existing members of staff in my Department, working in close conjunction with representatives of the Department of Finance and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

It has been decided to create a new post of second Secretary General in the Department of the Taoiseach to support the work of the council. He or she will also play a lead role in European Union co-ordination, supporting the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste as appropriate. Expressions of interest in the post have been sought and I expect that an appointment will be made shortly.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I support the appointment of a second Secretary General to the Department of the Taoiseach. This has been warranted for some time and it is a necessary appointment, particularly in terms of both the economic and European sides. Given the role of the Economic Management Council, will the Taoiseach confirm, as outlined to the House, that we will be able to ask questions about its work and that no effort will be made to shield it behind the status of a Cabinet committee?

Over recent days, we have witnessed a string of Ministers engaging in media appearances and using them to explain that economic documents are either before Government or due to come before Government in the near future. Given that Cabinet confidentiality does not seem to extend to media briefings, will the Taoiseach ensure the House has the same right as the media to ask questions about the work of his Department and in particular the work of the Economic Management Council?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I would very much regret it were there any comments from within Cabinet. The Deputy is well aware that the confidentiality of discussions at Cabinet and Cabinet sub-committees is protected by Article 28.4.3o of the Constitution, which states:

The confidentiality of discussions at meetings of the Government shall be respected in all circumstances save only where the High Court determines that disclosure should be made in respect of a particular matter -

i in the interests of the administration of justice by a Court, or

ii by virtue of an overriding public interest, pursuant to an application in that behalf by a tribunal appointed by the Government or a Minister of the Government on the authority of the Houses of the Oireachtas to inquire into a matter stated by them to be of public importance.

The Deputy is aware that is the situation in so far as the Constitution is concerned with regard to speaking in respect of Cabinet committees. However, that is not to say that the general discussions we can have here in a changed situation in the House cannot refer to the broader issues rather than the actual work of the Cabinet committees.

I will send the Deputy a list of the Cabinet committees that were authorised and will provide for the information of the House. The work of those committees can be discussed in general in discussions in the Dáil. However, as the Deputy is aware from experience at Cabinet committees, members are bound by the Constitution on confidentiality from talking about the actual issues discussed.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Clearly, Sir Humphrey was very hard at work yesterday preparing these responses and has covered all bases effectively. Under the programme for Government, the Taoiseach has given himself a role in terms of strategic economic co-ordination and has set up an important economic management council. Therefore, in the general sense, we should have the facility to ask questions in terms of strategic direction and economic policy and the decisions taken by the council.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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As Leader of the Opposition, the Deputy has every right to raise issues on Leaders' Questions and I have a duty to respond as best I can. The Economic Management Council will deal with economic planning and budgetary matters, with the economic recovery programme, including the representation of Ireland internationally in negotiations with the EU, the ECB, the IMF and the troika, the integration of the work of Departments and agencies and the co-ordination of banking policy. The Deputy has asked questions about these issues already. The council has met ten times to date, on 10, 15, 21, 23, 28, 29 and 31 March and on 4, 5 and 11 April, reflecting the seriousness of the issues with which it must deal and the decisions to be made by Government as a consequence.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil mé ag cur isteach ar an Taoiseach mar go bhfuil mé ag lorg eolais. Ní féidir liom eolas a fháil uaidh nuair a chuirim mo cheisteanna i mBéarla agus mar sin cuirfidh mé an cheist faoin ábhar seo i nGaeilge. Cé hiad na daoine ar an chomhairle seo? Cé hé an cathaoirleach? An bhfuil nasc idir an comhairle seo agus an IMF, EU agus an ECB?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Is iad na polaiteoirí atá ag freastal ar an chomhairle seo ná mé féin agus an Tánaiste, an t-Aire Airgeadais, an Teachta Michael Noonan, agus an t-Aire Airgeadais Caiteachas Poiblí, an Teachta Brendan Howlin. Tá oifigigh ón Roinn ag freastal, mar is gnáth, ar na coistí seo chomh maith, ach ní dóigh liom gur ceart a n-ainmneacha a lua mar gheall ar cibé eolas speisialta atá acu.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I noticed Deputy Martin was very complimentary to Sir Humphrey this morning. I suppose that is because-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask the Deputy to refrain from mentioning Sir Humphrey and remind Deputies that questions are asked of the Taoiseach and Ministers. Responses are given by Ministers, not Sir Humphrey.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Sir Humphrey had 14 years of good practice under Deputy Martin's party.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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He no longer exists as far as I am concerned.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Did I understand the Taoiseach correctly to say that he would not give us the names of the members of the Economic Management Council, apart from those who are members of the Cabinet?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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One does not name the officials on Cabinet sub-committees. The politicians on it are myself and the Tánaiste and the Ministers for Finance, Deputies Noonan and Howlin.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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That is absurd. How are Irish citizens to know the quality of the membership and of the advice and decisions made by such a council if they do not know their identities? It is not as if this is a matter of significant national security. However, economic management is a massive issue for our people who are suffering the consequences of the current crisis of neoliberal capitalism. I put it to the Taoiseach that it is absurd not to identify the members and that he should change his policy in that regard.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The decisions taken at the Economic Management Council and by the Cabinet have all to be relayed to the public and explanations given as to why they were taken. This council, operating as a Cabinet committee, deals with the issues I mentioned, economic planning and budgetary management, banking strategy, the integration of the work of Departments and deals with the issues that arise regularly, such as the EU, the ECB and the IMF troika. Officials with different specialties may be called before the council. The politicians on the council are there to make recommendations and bring decisions to Cabinet for final endorsement and the Deputy has every right to ask about those.